Curiosities

Australian Desert Rose – Unusual Gypsum Formation

A nice example of a Gypsum desert rose dug out of the dry lakebed at Woolcunda Station, Coomba, NSW. The location is 125 km south of Broken Hill.

Iron oxide in the sand gives its colouring but it’s the special formation of the crystals [formed by infrequent leaching when the rains actually come] that makes this special.

A nice even sided display, weighing 40 gm and measuring 10cm by 6cm by 4cm

Desert Rose with a very attractive structure.

$35.00

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The Lure of the Limerick – William S Baring-Gould.

Published by Rupert Hart-Davis, London in 1969. Squat quarto, 143 pages, very good condition.

If you have made it through life without a few limericks “up your sleeve”, then you are missing out. Limericks by nature are often a bit rude … well crude – but that’s the point.

Imagine that ghastly dinner party, or better still a business lunch or annual get-together. It’s all a bit tired and predictable and, maybe fortified out it pops ….

“There was a young student of Johns

Who wanted to bugger the swans.

But the loyal hall porter

Said, “Sir, take my daughter.

Them birds are reserved for the dons”

If there is complete silence – regard that as success!

Rest assured some contain Australia – just not as good.

Limericks – become an expert overnight.

$30.00

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Monty Python’s Flying Circus – Just the Words [A Lie] – 2 Volumes Complete

First editions hardback [soft cover more common] published by Methuen in 1989.

Thick perfect bound, 325, 349 pages, laminated pictorial boards. Inside toned as always, the nature of the paper used.

We say “A Lie” in or title because there are illustrations from Python photographs in each volume – quite humorous if you get their wit.

Enough Python to get you through the winter and/or improve your skills at confusing others. Our favourite sketch – “Ten Seconds of Sex”

Double Python – feels rather greedy.

$40.00

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D.H. Lawrence’s John Thomas & Lady Jane – According to Spike Milligan – First Edition

First edition published by Michael Joseph, London in 1995.

John Thomas and Lady Jane was another take on Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence but was not published during his lifetime – after all the was quiet a curfuffle regarding Lady C and Lawrence hardly made a cent out of it.

Here Spike produces a surprising reprise of John Thomas and Lady Jane and we doubt if any of the bawdy references are omitted although a quite a few humorous elements are inserted [anti-pun intended]

A good clean copy [pun intended] octavo, 169 pages, good jacket, super condition.

Spike and D.H.L. – well he did re-write the Bible.

$35.00

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Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

No date or maker but this presentation was a specialty in the late Victorian / Edwardian era. Reference authority “Bracegirdle” shows a number of “outsized” examples but none quite like this.

In modern terms known as the spotted lantern fly. The insect is on the move and a potential threat in Australia – modelling has shown that it could survive well in western and north-western Victoria. When we say a threat, it was endemic to China and Vietnam but moved into South Korea in 2006, Japan in 2009 and the USA in 2014 … so the move is on.

Here the little blighter is beautifully preserved and presented in Canada Balsam … we know that CB was the mounters choice due its quality and the cursive narrative says so.

A microscopical rarity outsized mount of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

$150.00

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Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

A nice example of the interesting medal struck by the Rockhampton Coin Club and made in Brisbane by A.J. Parkes in 1982.

An uncirculated commemorative, 40 mm diameter, 40gms in copper alloy. Strong relief and a super example.

The obverse carries a design by artists Don Taylor of a miner / prospector on his knee observing his gold pan with some intensity, other mining accoutrements in the background. On the reverse we have an image taken from a 1908 photograph of the working mine … an image all too familiar to Voyager.

Still with its original information with its brief history of the Mine.

Mighty Mount Morgan commemorated in medal form, and it deserves it!

$50.00

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Australian Desert Rose – Unusual Gypsum Formation

The Lure of the Limerick – William S Baring-Gould.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus – Just the Words [A Lie] – 2 Volumes Complete

D.H. Lawrence’s John Thomas & Lady Jane – According to Spike Milligan – First Edition

Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982 (Duplicate)

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